A Methodological Framework for Integrating Nature-Based Solutions Into Water-Sensitive Urban Planning

Abstract

Urbanisation is one of the dominant global development processes of the 21st century and, together with climate change impacts, increasingly pressures urban ecosystems and infrastructure. These processes contribute to persistent challenges related to air, water and soil quality, as well as to the growing exposure of cities to natural risks. In this context, water sensitive urban planning has gained importance, as it supports the integration of water-related processes and constraints into spatial planning and decision-making, using contemporary planning and spatial-analytical tools. Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) are increasingly recognised as an approach for integrating natural processes into urban water management and protection. However, their application in practice often remains fragmented and disconnected from planning procedures. This paper proposes a methodological framework for integrating NBS into water-sensitive urban planning and integrated water management, combining planning parameters, hydrological and hydrogeological criteria, and spatial information derived from risk maps, with particular emphasis on the protection of urban water resources.